Alanson ii



(No Model.).

A. H. REED & D. DONOVAN. PIANO PIN BLOCK.

No. 473,523. Patehted Apr. 26, 1.892.

ATTEsT: INVENTORS:

flzanson f feed,

Jen 72 a; 20720 van,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALANSON II. REED AND DENNIS DONOVAN, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS; SAID DONOVAN ASSIGNOR TO SAID REED.

PIANO PIN-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 473,523, dated April26, 1892.

Application filed November 20, 1891. Serial No. 412,481. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be itknown that we, ALANSON H. REED and DENNIS DONOVAN, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in PianoPin-Blocks; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to the wooden pinblock or wrest-plank 0f pianos,the object of the present invention being to provide an improvedconstruction of such pin-blocks, whereby the exposed surface of the sameand through which the tuning-pins are driven is rendered moisture-proof,so as to resist in a very perfect manner the destructive action of theatmosphere, due to changesin the humidity of the same, causing splittingor checking of the pin-block and an alternate looseness and tightness toan undue degree of the tuning-pins, and which at the same time atfords afinished and ornamental appearance to the exposed face or front of thepin-block. \Ve attain such object by the construction illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, which represents in perspective a portion of apiano pin-block made in accordance with our present invention.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents the body of the pin-block orwrest-plank, and 2 a coating of weather and water proof compositionplaced over the face of the pin-block, as shown. This coating will be ofa coherent non-frangible nature, so as to permit of the passage of thetuning-pins thereto without liability to fracture or scaling off of thecomposition, and this nature of the composition we best attain by amixture of equal parts of silicate of soda or potassa, Frenchzinc-white, and pure white lead, mixed together with a snfiicientquantity of polishing-varnish and applied in one heavyor a number ofsucceeding coats, a marbleized appearance to resemble marble beingattainedin the spreading on of the composition in the manner well knownto painters.

In our improved pin-block the coating fills the pores of the surface ofthe wooden body to prevent access of the air and moisture thereto tocause the wood to shrink or check, and, what is of the greatestimportance, preserves the uniformityof the friction by which thetuning-pins are held in their adjustment regardless of the condition ofthe atmosphere, a minor advantage being the improved ornamentalappearance imparted to the visible surface of the pin-block.

Having thus fully described our said invention, what we claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

As an improved article of manufacture, the herein-described pianopin-block, the same comprising a wood body 1 and a coating 2 of acoherent non-frangible composition, through which the tuning-pins areadapted to pass, essentially as herein described.

In testimony whereof witness our hands this 14th day of November, 1891.

ALANSON H. REED. DENNIS DONOVAN. In presence of ROBERT BURNS, GEO. H.ARTHUR.

